SEC Statcat’s 50 Most Impactful Transfers for 2024
SEC Statcat’s 50 Most Impactful Transfers for 2024
Now that summer is here and the dust from the spring transfer portal window has settled, fans can finally turn the page and focus their full attention towards the increasingly approaching season. Rosters are set. Lineups are live. And, new stars are about to emerge.
As a member of On3’s Player Ranking Department and point-man on our transfer portal efforts, I like to think I know a thing or two about some of the best players in college football. And besides opening myself to backdoor digs with comments like that, identifying impact is all part of the job description.
After all, you all need something to read. I mean what else are you going to do? Go outside or spend time with your family? We’re less than 90 days from Week1 for heaven’s sake.
So from where I sit, here are the 50 most impactful SEC transfers for the upcoming 2024 season:
Walter Nolen, INT - Ole Miss
This former consensus top3 recruit is coming off a year where he boasted a top6 Sack Rate among college interiors. For good measure, both his 5.8% Stop Rate and 10.7% Impact Rate placed inside the Core4’s top16. Among a D-line with immense upside, his is the loftiest.
Nic Scourton, EDGE - TAMU
Only five Core4 pass rushers were more efficient capturing wins on true dropbacks than the former Boilermaker. Plus, he mastered Michigan’s marvelous front to the tune of 6 pressures, 2 sacks, and 5 stops without missing a single tackle. And, that’s just a glimmer of his ability to produce. His 7.1 Impact plays/game was a top8 mark among all edges.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE - Ole Miss
Along with boasting a top10 total pressure rate in college football, no SECer dominated true pass rush situations as well as Pete Golding’s edge. When opponents passed outright, he reached the quarterback 21% of the time. An eighth of his plays resulted in either a sack, hurry, batted ball, INT, forced fumble or defensive stop. Either way, he’s a major loss for Florida. He accounted for 24% of the team’s total pressures – the highest share by a single SECer last year.
Isaiah Bond, WR - Texas
There’s a more-than-fair chance Bond leads the conference in Explosive Target Rate. After all, only three league returners posted more last year than his 11. Yet, inaccurate offerings muddied his metrics. Only four SECers with at least 50 targets were more prone to uncatchable tries. So, his surface stats of a middling 2.0 Yards/Route Run, 8.9 Yards/Target, and 63% Catch rate will hardly drum up much excitement. But when omitting biffs, his 68% Success Rate cracked the conference’s top10. With more consistent chances, he can become a household name.
Kadyn Proctor, OT - Alabama
The Tide were very fortunate to land a high-level tackle in the portal, because their blindside blocker last year was a little rough. He allowed the 12th-most pressures at the position and was responsible for 13 sacks. But Coach DeBoer dipped into the portal and nabbed a former five-star who didn’t record a single hurry or QB takedown as an Iowa Hawkeye. What an upgrade! But in all seriousness, Alabama retaining continuity at a key position will be crucial for the ascension of Jalen Milroe. Plus, Proctor still has two more years of eligibility to live up to his pedigree. And, I think his game will make a sizable strides during his sophomore season.
Parker Brailsford, OC – Alabama
Depending on who you ask, the Tide’s new big toe on the O-line is the best center in college football. Coming off a year where he was a key cog on a Joe Moore Award-winning front, he was one of four Core4 interior blockers with a +79 PFF run block grade and +84 PFF pass block grade. Focusing on the latter, he only allowed 9 pressures all year for a laudable 99% efficiency.
Trevor Etienne, RB – Georgia
Built like a brick at 5’9 210, the Bulldogs new running back is well-suited to bash boxes and make defenders miss. Each of the last two seasons, he’s finished inside the SEC’s top8 in YAC average and Broken Tackle Rate. This past fall, his 3.9 and 40% respective clips each placed inside the league’s top3. Two-thirds of his yards came after engagement – a mark only five of his peers bested. But to prove he isn’t all thunder, over a sixth of his career rushes have resulted in at least a 10 yard gain. And, his 18.5% Explosive Run Rate was the SEC’s 3rd-best among RBs in 2023.
Brock Vandagriff, QB – Kentucky
One way or another, BVG will be impactful. Frankly, Kentucky will not meet expectations if he plays poorly. Even with a strong defense and capable pass catchers, the Cats will only go as far as their QB1’s arm will take them. Each of the last two seasons, UK has finished inside the SEC’s bottom5 in Passing Success Rate. And in that time, the overall results have been mixed. He doesn’t need to set the Bluegrass on fire, but he must help stabilize an inconsistent unit and manufacture key completions.
CJ Daniels, WR – LSU
Losing one of the nation’s best and prolific pass catchers would neutralize most programs; but not LSU. CJD is coming off a year where he was one of the most efficient receivers in college football. No one bested his 3.9 Yards/Route run. And while averaging 13 Yards/Target, the 6’2 snatcher converted half of his tries into either a conversion or a score. With Kyren Lacy – the SEC’s leader in Explosive Target Rate – the Bayou Bengals are well set up to bomb opponents.
Keon Sabb, S – Alabama
As a former top8 safety in the 2022 class, Sabb was a core contributor to the national champs last year. Along with PFF coverage grades in the 80’s, he tallied 7 defended passes against a single TD allowed. As the last line of defense commonly providing cloud cover, he scored as a top18 Core4 safety in zone coverage. Only six of his peers secured a better overall Ball Hawk Rate than his 35.7% across the season.
Juice Wells, WR – Ole Miss
This time last year, Wells was a popular pick to be the conference’s top receiver. But even though his stock has taken a hit after a lost season, he joins a potent offense that could see him hit the ground running and immediately produce. No longer an offense's clear No. 1 guy, Wells could become more advantageous against single coverages with the rest of the Rebels’ weapons constantly stressing opponents. Reminder the last time he was healthy, he placed inside the conference’s top12 in Yards/Target and Explosive Target Rate.
Diego Pounds, OT – Ole Miss
While the Lane Train has loads of fun toys and gadgets, Ole Miss’s strong blocking foundation is crucial to its success. Excluding TAMU’s QBs, Jaxson Dart’s Pressure Pass Rate was a bottom5 figure within the conference, and only 3 other teams had a worse Negative Play Rate. No Rebel O-Linemen with over 100 snaps posted an above-average PFF pass block grade. Not only did Pounds score well on dropbacks (his grade was 8 points better than any Rebel last year), but his 98.3% Pass Block Efficiency is a top10 mark among returning Core4 tackles.
Lance Heard, OT – Tennessee
Despite limited appearances as a true freshman, the former top3 tackle prospect from the 2023 class nabbed a 71.3 PFF grade. No Vol O-Lineman topped a 68 score last year. Only allowing 3 pressures across 95 sets, he presumes to be Nico Iamaleava’s best friend maintaining pockets to let the young gun perform his magic. Plus, the duo will be paired together for at least two seasons.
Cayden Green, OG – Missouri
One of the Show-Me state’s top young talents returns home and helps the Tigers own a high-quality offensive line. Beating expectations as a true freshmen for Oklahoma, he made 11 appearances and started the last month. Though his metrics hardly stood out, being an average collegiate blocker as an 18-year-old hints his best days are yet to come.
Germie Bernard, WR – Alabama
Alabama is eager for a playmaking pass catcher to emerge. And considering his experience in Coach DeBoer’s scheme and spring ball highlights, Bernard is poised to be Jalen Milroe’s new favorite target. Sure-handed, he caught nearly 80% of his opportunities and turned about 48% of them into a first down or a score. Plus, his 1.9 Yards/Route Run and 9.8 Yards/Target topped the national average. Throw in his ability to add juice in the return game, and it's a safe bet he’ll be an impactful member of the Tide’s football team.
Elijah Badger, WR – Florida
Graham Mertz didn’t look to push the ball downfield much last year. And when he did, he failed to meet SEC standards. So in an attempt to add more potency to its pass game, Florida added one of the nation’s most dangerous receivers after the catch. Over the last two years, Badger has forced 51 missed tackles. This past season, his Broken Tackle Rate topped 40% and placed inside the top10 among qualifying pass catchers. Plus, his 8.4 after-catch average was good for the nation’s top30. And outside of Oregon, Florida is the only Core4 team with two returning receivers who sported a +8 YAC clip.
Taylen Green, QB – Arkansas
Green is one of the position's most dynamic rushers. Even his best opponents allowed him to capture a near-30% Explosive Rate and 60% Success Rate as a designed rusher. There’s little doubt Bobby Petrino will bust out his Lamar Jackson package and let Green stress opponents with his legs. The question is can he develop into a trusty passer. Though he has traits and talent, his heatseeking tendency is a potential backbreaker for the Hogs.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB – Kentucky
Over the last two seasons, JDJ has recorded a defensive stop on over 6% of his snaps. Along with posting his best marks in coverage, his clip finished inside the top100 among all LBs in 2023. And for the second-straight year, his Impact Rate has topped the national average. Fine results, but UK will need him to play like the dude who was the Butkus Award runner-up considering the scheme’s reliance on box defenders to take care of business.
Trey Moore, EDGE – Texas
Leveling up to the Core4 after a 13-sack season, the Longhorn is hopeful his best days are still ahead. On a per rush basis, only three edges snatched a higher Sack Rate than his 5.3%. Consistent motor, however, will be worth monitoring. He cannot afford to coast or take plays off. While his 2023 pass rush metrics were all generally above-average, they carry less weight due to the degree of difficulty faced.
Branson Hickman, OC – Oklahoma
The Sooners will be starting five new faces up front and the former SMU Mustang stands to be the best one this fall. Last year, he graded as a top20 interior blocker nationally. And with a top50 pass block grade overall and on true dropbacks among all linemen, only 1.5% of his pass sets allowed pressure.
Marcus Carroll, RB – Missouri
The Tigers accumulated more rush yards before contact than any offense in the conference last year. Bringing back 3 starters and adding a couple of quality transfers, they’ll have potential to replicate their robust returns again this fall. Carrol’s stable metrics don’t excite. But his environment will have him set up to succeed and conceivably be the SEC’s most voluminous ball carriers. After all, his 112 yards/game average was a top8 mark in 2023.
Ethan Miner, OC – Miss State
Year-over-year, Miner was one of college football’s most improved linemen. Rocking a dismal 48 overall grade at Arkansas State in 2022, his score jumped up into the low 80’s across the board last season after transferring to North Texas. Though his efficiency is bound to take a hit playing in the SEC, his impact will be felt aiding Miss State’s Super Spread scheme maintain clean pockets. He only surrendered 6 pressures in 2023. Plus, his 84.1 PFF pass block grade cracked the top36 among all linemen regardless of position.
Fernando Carmona, OT – Arkansas
Arkansas joined Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and South Carolina as the only conference offenses to finish inside both the league’s bottom5 in Pressure Rate and rush yard before contact average. Only the Gamecocks were more prone to TFLs. The Hogs really needed to shore up their front this off-season, and Carmona presents to be a great fill-in. After cutting his surrendered pressures in half year-over year, he posted a top50 Pass Block Win Rate among college tackles. Plus for good measure, only 14 others at the position sported a higher overall PFF grade than his 81.4 mark in 2023.
Makylan Pounders, OT – Miss State
Another biggun who will help the Bulldogs’ aerial efforts. Among college tackles, his 97.9% Pass Block Efficiency on true dropbacks was a top15 mark last year. No other returning SECer posted a better clip in comparison.
Amari Niblack, TE – Texas
Though a moderately productive pass catcher last year, inconsistent targets muted Niblack’s numbers. But when omitting untouchables from his profile, over a fifth of his chances gained north of 20 yards and his 13.5 Yards/Target was the SEC’s 8th-best figure. Further confirming his reliability, his 75% Success Rate cracked the league’s top4. Paired once again with one of the most creative play callers in the game, his bang-for-buck offerings ought to increase.
Kelly Akharaiyi, WR – Miss State
Akharaiyi will be the Bulldogs main explosive pass threat. On a top50 average depth of target last year, nearly half of his production came on deep balls. Only 7 players topped his impressive 21.7 Yards/Catch. For good measure, he finished inside the nation’s top30 in Yards/Route Run. He’ll have to get better winning contested chances. But, he’ll have loads of opportunities to add splashes to Miss State’s pass game.
Silas Bolden, WR – Texas
Adding more pop to Texas’ receiver room, Bolden is coming off a season with a top90 Yards/Route Run despite dealing with DJ Uiagalelei’s inconsistencies. Even though he logged a sub 63% Catch Rate, he only dropped two targets across 86 tries. Back-to-back years he’s posted a +75 PFF receiving grade. And while his total volume might be up in the air due to other dudes vying for opportunities, he has next-level potential.
Chris Brazzell, WR – Tennessee
The Tulane-transfer is a trendy pick to be one of the conference’s top newcomers. In line to be the Vols’ Z-receiver, his 6 '5 frame lends him to be a great contested pass catcher. In fact, his 9 such receptions was top50-worthy. Plus, his Yards/Route Run cracked the top100. Already keen on delivering efficient targets, his numbers could set box scores ablaze this fall with the help of Tennessee’s vertical choice patterns.
Jay’Vion Cole, CB – Texas
After kicking FCS butt as a freshman and cranking it up a notch in the G5 last year, Cole again has leveled up. Though there is no guarantee he’ll start this season for the Longhorns, StatCat is bullish on his ability to positively affect ball games. He logged 29 impact plays including 10 defended passes. By rate, his 4.2% and 18.9% respective clips both topped the position average nationally. A zone coverage specialist, he graded inside the top20 among high-volume corners on such snaps. And while only 12% of his coverages played a man scheme, he still finished with a top36 score in that respect per PFF.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR – Auburn
Nearly 30% of his yards and half his TDs came across the first two weeks of last season. And as the season went on, it was clear he didn’t fully mesh well with Drew Allar’s ‘quarterbacking style’. Ultimately, his 1.9 Yards/Route Run was bang-average. But when focusing on games against Penn State’s best foes, over half of KLS’s targets resulted in either a first down or a score when excluding uncatchable targets. If his clip from that sample was averaged across the entire season, it would have been a top10 mark within the SEC. With a more defined role, he can be a key completion machine for Auburn’s offense this fall, assuming he sees catchable targets.
Toriano Pride, CB – Missouri
Missouri desperately needed to bolster its secondary with talent after both its starting corners went professional. And, the Tigers could’ve done much worse than nabbing a former-Top50 player in the 2021 class. Across 55 career targets, he’s totaled 8 defended passes. Though he’s yet to put a whole season together worthy of his bluechip background, he’ll have a golden opportunity to become one of the SEC’s top coveragemen.
Percy Lewis, Tackle – Auburn
Lewis had mostly been a reserve the past couple of seasons. But emerged across the back half of Miss State’s schedule as a competent bookend. In his 7 starts, he only surrendered 3 pressures for a sturdy 98.2% Pass Block Efficiency. Across the entire season, PFF graded the 6’8 blindside blocker as the SEC’s 22nd-best pass blocker. Dillon Wade was no slouch LT himself. But, the staff kicked him inside to guard to free up Lewis to help limit Payton Thorne’s sacks.
Ja'Quinden Jackson, RB – Arkansas
Primed to be Arkansas' feature back, Jackson is an easy candidate to have a 1,000-yard season. Despite switching environments, his stable metrics can’t be dismissed. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 3.8 rush yards after contact on a 27% Broken Tackle Rate. His efficiency is trending the wrong way. Still, some solace can be found in the fact he’s one of the few college backs with a +85 PFF rush grade in back-to-back seasons.
Blake Shapen, QB – Miss State
If Miss State is to beat expectations this fall, Shapen will be a major reason why. You could say he’ll be sloppy drunk, because he’s about to be served more shots than a Nashville bachelorette party. Explosives will happen. But how consistent he’s able to hit his downfield targets and nab key completions will determine whether or not Lebby’s first season in Starkville will be a success.
Diego Pavia, QB – Vanderbilt
Pavia’s game has some punch to it. As a former wrestler, he’s wiry and possesses tremendous balance. This often results in magnificent extended plays and enhanced output versus pressure. Though he’s not a field-stretcher, he’ll hang tough and make some nice throws. And for an offense that’s bound to be backed up a bunch, he displayed nice playmaking capabilities when behind the chains. Despite the highest Drop Rate on true dropbacks in my QB Impact Study, he still managed to turn in average Success and First Down+TD Rates against the meat of his schedule.
Marcus Bryant, OT – Missouri
A dependable pass blocker on the G5 level, Bryant will be looked to protect Brady Cook’s blind side this season. Though not as steady as he was in 2022, his presence gives Missouri one of the versatile and well-rounded fronts in college football. And for what it’s worth, 63% of the Tigers’ bread-and-butter Off-Tackles hit the left side last year. How well hit blocks that concept might make-or-break the team’s playoff chances considering how often its hinges the rest of their scheme.
Isaiah Hamilton, CB – Ole Miss
Hamilton has never had a season with a sub-70 coverage grade. And despite leveling up to the Core4 last season, he still scored in the top 84th percentile among corners. He’s not the best tackler, but he’s constantly around the ball. Only 20 others at the position tallied more impact plays that his 33
Matthew Golden, WR – Texas
Heath and inconsistent quarterbacking has held Golden back as an underclassman. Though he has amassed over 1,000 yards on 77 catches, his efficiency has been stale. Each of the last two seasons, his Yards/Route Run and Yards/Target have been nothing but average. That said, stats are stats. Golden’s talent, on the other hand, can blossom this fall in one of the most favorable environments out there.
Ja’Mori Maclin, WR – Kentucky
Coming off a 1,000-yard season, Maclin was one of 20 receivers that posted a +15.0 ADOT and a +6 YAC average. Though a little slight, he can stretch the field and stress opponents all over the formation. Over half of his production last year came on deep targets alone. With him in the fold, UK has its most talented receiver room in school history.
London Humpreys, WR – Georgia
No SECer was more prone to uncatchable targets last year. Nearly 32% of Humprey’s opportunities were wasted. Considering his new QB owns the league’s highest rate of on-target passes, he’s bound to make more noise. About 47% of his yards came on deep tries and 4/5 such catches resulted in scores. Plus his potency is further highlighted by the fact his Yards/Target cracked the conference’s top8 when omitting untouchables.
Damonic Williams, INT – Oklahoma
Though Williams won’t show much sizzle on the stat sheet, he will be one of the conference’s top space eaters. A true nose who commands double-teams, he often frees up teammates to finish plays. A former freshman all-american, he’s posted a +71 PFF run defensive grade back-to-back years. In that time, he accumulated 28 defensive stops while only missing 3 tackles.
Andrew Mukumba, S – Texas
Despite only 18 impact plays – with a mere 3 pass break ups – Mukumba was one of the ACC’s best shadow defenders. He only allowed a 4.0 Yards/Target and 0.4 Yards/Coverage Snap. The former fell into the lowest-30 among college safeties.
Colbie Young, WR – Georgia
Despite being unranked by the scouting services coming out of high school, George was a consistent contributor for Miami’s pass game. He hasn’t been the most efficient pass catcher; but he's totaled nearly 1,000 yards and 10 scores over the last two years. But one area he shined was coming down with contested targets. The 6 ‘5 wideout has hauled in 63% of such chances in his career. He could become Carson Beck's go-to man in the redzone with those specs.
Cassius Howell, EDGE – Texas A&M
Howell is a pass rush specialist through and through. Last year, 70% of his total impact plays were pressures. His near-31% Pass Rush Win Rate on true dropbacks placed inside the top20. With 4 multi-takedown games, his Sack Rate cracked the top15. Having no games against Core4 opponents is a knock. But if he’s just asked to harass passers, he’s capable of being one of the SEC’s most impactful edges.
Caidan Woullard, EDGE – Oklahoma
Though he didn’t have any impactful games against Core4 opponents last year, he rushed the passer often and recorded a lot of impact plays. His 90 came in as the 9th-most among edges last season; 10 were sacks. But, efficiency wasn’t his game. Only an eighth of his rushes resulted in a pressure and his Pass Rush Win Rate barely cracked the top100.
Jermod McCoy, CB – Tennessee
Thrown into the fire as a true freshman, McCoy racked up more defended passes than TDs allowed. Across Oregon State's last 4 games, he logged a PBU in every contest as well as an INT. His 17% Ball Hawk Rate topped the national average. And while he didn’t perform too strongly on a per snap basis, he showed he has the chops to add value to a secondary that allowed a bottom3 Yards/Pass in SEC play last year.
BJ Mayes, CB – Texas A&M
With good size and catch point tenacity, the 6 ‘1 Mayes beat position standards across the board statically. He ballhawked over a fifth of his targets. And for the second-straight year, he held opposing passers below a 60 QB Rating. And if you care about such things, his PFF coverage grade has improved three-seasons in a row despite leveling up from the FCS to the G5.
Will Lee, CB Texas A&M
Mayes isn’t the only ballhawk joining the Aggies’ secondary this off-season. Lee’s 22.2% such rate tied for the 30th-best among college corners last year. Plus, he graded as one of the 30-best in man coverage per PFF. He even has a knack for finding the rock when not in coverage as his 6.2% Impact Play Rate cracked the top10. His aggression paid off in this manner, but he’s also prone to allowing chunk completions. Along with allowing 4 scores, he yielded a double-digit Yards/Target with a subpar Yards/Coverage Snap.
Asa Turner, S – Florida
Though his playing time and production has been spotty over the last three years, Turner has been one of the position’s best shadow defenders in that time. Since 2021, he has finished on the good side of the national average in both Yards/Target and Yards/Coverage snap. And even though he failed to log a single defended pass, both of those metrics finished inside the top6 amongst college safeties last season.
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OT – Florida
Florida allowed a 33% Pressure Rate last year – that’s simply way too high for an offense that wants to be relevant this year and beyond. And if BCD has anything to say about it, the Gators ought to be better at maintaining pockets with his efforts. He has three years of starting experience and has been scored with at least a 70 PFF pass block grade each season. Coming off his best scores of his career, he posted a 98% Pass Block Efficiency in 2023.
Honorable Mention:
Rocket Sanders, RB -- S. Carolina
Darris Smith, LB – Missouri
Dejzhon Malone, CB – Oklahoma
Phillip Blidi, INT – Auburn
Jacoby Jackson, OG – Miss State
Jerrin Thompson, S – Auburn
Chris Paul Jr, LB – Ole Miss
Solomon DeShields, LB – Texas A&M
Ben Yurosek, TE – Georgia
Keytron Crawford, EDGE – Auburn
Anton Juncaj, EDGE – Arkansas